As Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) faces the possibility of an ouster from the speakership Friday if he doesn’t receive enough votes, some Republican lawmakers tell Axios the Louisiana lawmaker should avoid one thing. “Don’t do what [former speaker Kevin] McCarthy did,” one GOP member told the news outlet, noting that several Republican colleagues agree with the advice. “Don’t give promises upon which you can’t deliver,” the lawmaker added. “Don’t give promises that require us to do things that we don’t want to do, that are beyond reasonable.”READ MORE: Experts predict ‘most extreme’ outcome of speakership vote: reportAxios notes ahead of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) ouster in January 2023, the former GOP congressman “cut a deal with his right-wing rebels — including rules changes, plum committee assignments and votes on certain bills — that came back to haunt him.”One Republican told Axios, “You cannot trust these guys who undermine us at every point. They ask for first base, the speaker gives it to them, and they ask for second base. … Don’t cater to [them].”The first GOP lawmaker emphasized to the news outlet, “We all trust Johnson won’t go that far.”He added that Johnson is a “good conservative man whose ideology used to be like Freedom Caucus … adjacent — now he understands he’s got a house to run.”READ MORE: ‘No Fs to give’: GOP rep remains committed to oust Mike Johnson despite Trump endorsementAxios’ full report is available here.
